The French navy boarded a new tanker from Russia on Sunday, during an operation carried out on the high seas in the Atlantic “with the support of several partners including the United Kingdom”, announced Monday June 1 on X Emmanuel Macron.
According to the Atlantic maritime prefecture, the interception occurred “more than 400 nautical miles (740 km, Editor’s note) west of the tip of Brittany, on an oil tanker coming from Murmansk in Russia”. “After the visiting team boarded, examination of the documents confirmed doubts about the irregularity of the flag flown. A report was made to the Brest prosecutor, competent under the maritime court,” the same source added.
Yesterday morning, the French Navy boarded a new oil tanker under international sanctions coming from Russia: the Tagor. Our determination is constant and total.
This intervention was carried out in the Atlantic, on the high seas,… pic.twitter.com/zxEslYjbUE
— Emmanuel Macron (@EmmanuelMacron) June 1, 2026
I manage my choices I authorize
The ship is “currently escorted by national navy assets to an anchorage point for continued checks,” the maritime prefecture said in a press release.
“It is unacceptable that boats circumvent international sanctions, violate the law of the sea and finance the war that Russia has been waging against Ukraine for more than 4 years,” added the head of state, in a message broadcasting some images of the boarding.
Third ship intercepted
“These ships, which do not respect the most basic rules of maritime navigation, also constitute a threat to the environment and to the safety of all,” insisted Emmanuel Macron, assuring that France’s “determination” to fight against the Russian ghost fleet was “constant and total”.
The interception of this tanker, the Tagor, is the fourth of this type carried out by Paris after those of the Deyna and the Grinch, stopped in the Mediterranean in March and January 2026 respectively, and the Boracay, boarded in September 2025 off the coast of Brittany (west) while sailing without a flag. The three ships were immobilized and then were able to leave after paying fines.
France announced on April 8 that it wanted to double the penalties applicable to offenses of failure to flag and refusal to comply in order to strengthen the means of combating the ships of the Russian ghost fleet, according to consistent sources.
